Apparatus and methods for visual perception using an array of nanoscale waveguides

Abstract

Nanoscale photovoltaic devices fabricated from nanoscale waveguides that receive, propagate, and convert incident light into electrical neural signals, and methods of using these photovoltaic devices for visual perception are disclosed herein. A visual neuroprosthetic device includes an array of nanoscale waveguides each nanoscale waveguide in the array having a photovoltaic material located between an internal conductor and an external conductor, wherein each nanoscale waveguide receives, propagates, and converts incident light into electrical neural signals.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A visual neuroprosthetic device comprising an array of nanoscale waveguides disposed on a substrate, each nanoscale waveguide in the array having a photovoltaic material located between an internal conductor and an external conductor, wherein each nanoscale waveguide receives, propagates, and converts incident light into electrical neural signals, and wherein a site density of the nanoscale waveguides on the substrate is the same as or greater than the site density of photoreceptors in the human retina. 
     
     
       2. The visual neuroprosthetic device of  claim 1  wherein the internal conductor acts as an optical antenna with an impedance matched transmission line. 
     
     
       3. The visual neuroprosthetic device of  claim 1  wherein each nanoscale waveguide in the array has a coaxial configuration. 
     
     
       4. The visual neuroprosthetic device of  claim 1  further comprising a transparent substrate supporting the array of nanoscale waveguides. 
     
     
       5. The visual neuroprosthetic device of  claim 1  further comprising a nontransparent substrate supporting the array of nanoscale waveguides. 
     
     
       6. The visual neuroprosthetic device of  claim 1  further comprising a flexible substrate supporting the array of nanoscale waveguides. 
     
     
       7. The visual neuroprosthetic device of  claim 1  further comprising a nonflexible substrate supporting the array of nanoscale waveguides. 
     
     
       8. The visual neuroprosthetic device of  claim 1  further comprising a mechanical stabilizing film surrounding the array of nanoscale waveguides. 
     
     
       9. The visual neuroprosthetic device of  claim 1  wherein the array of nanoscale waveguides engage and communicate with a retina of an eye. 
     
     
       10. The visual neuroprosthetic device of  claim 1  wherein the array of nanoscale waveguides transfer the converted electrical neural signals to cells within a retina of an eye. 
     
     
       11. The visual neuroprosthetic device of  claim 10  wherein the transferred signals travel through the cells of the retina and to fibers of the optic nerve to a brain to form a visual image. 
     
     
       12. The visual neuroprosthetic device of  claim 1  wherein the incident light is a visible light. 
     
     
       13. The visual neuroprosthetic device of  claim 1  wherein the incident light is an infrared light. 
     
     
       14. A visual neuroprosthetic device comprising a substrate; and an array of coaxial nanoscale waveguides disposed on the substrate, each nanoscale waveguide in the array having a photovoltaic material located between an internal conductor and an external conductor, wherein each nanoscale waveguide converts incident light into electrical neural signals, and wherein a site density of the nanoscale waveguides on the substrate is the same as or greater than the site density of photoreceptors in the human retina. 
     
     
       15. The visual neuroprosthetic device of  claim 14  wherein the internal conductor acts as an optical antenna with an impedance matched transmission line. 
     
     
       16. The visual neuroprosthetic device of  claim 14  further comprising a substrate supporting the array of nanoscale waveguides. 
     
     
       17. The visual neuroprosthetic device of  claim 14  wherein the nanoscale waveguides are configured to engage and communicate with a retina of an eye. 
     
     
       18. The visual neuroprosthetic device of  claim 14  wherein the array of nanoscale waveguides are configured to transfer the converted electrical neural signals to cells within a retina of an eye. 
     
     
       19. The visual neuroprosthetic device of  claim 14  further comprising a mechanical stabilizing film surrounding the array of nanoscale waveguides. 
     
     
       20. A visual neuroprosthetic device comprising:
 a substrate having two or more zones, including at least a first zone and a second zone; 
 a first array of first nanoscale waveguides disposed over a first zone of the substrate, the first nanoscale waveguides having a first diameter; and 
 a second array of second nanoscale waveguides disposed over a second zone of the substrate, the second nanoscale waveguides having a second diameter different than the first diameter,
 wherein each nanoscale waveguide of the first nanoscale waveguides and the second nanoscale waveguides has a photovoltaic material located between an internal conductor and an external conductor such that each nanoscale waveguide converts incident light into electrical neural signals. 
 
 
     
     
       21. The visual neuroprosthetic device of  claim 20  wherein the internal conductor acts as an optical antenna with an impedance matched transmission line. 
     
     
       22. The visual neuroprosthetic device of  claim 20  wherein each nanoscale waveguide in the array has a coaxial configuration. 
     
     
       23. The visual neuroprosthetic device of  claim 20  wherein the nanoscale waveguides are configured to engage and communicate with a retina of an eye. 
     
     
       24. The visual neuroprosthetic device of  claim 20  wherein the first zone has a first site density of nanoscale waveguides and the second zone has a second site density of nanoscale waveguides different than the first site density. 
     
     
       25. The visual neuroprosthetic device of  claim 20  wherein the first and second nanoscale waveguides are configured to transfer the converted electrical neural signals to cells within a retina of an eye. 
     
     
       26. The visual neuroprosthetic device of  claim 20  wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter.